Yellow Dog Consulting

Sales & Marketing Consulting for solo-preneurs.

Networking with Yellow Dog in July!

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IMG_3580July is my favorite month of the year, yes, it’s my Birthday Month! And with the unofficial start of summer on July 5th, it’s a great reason to get out and network! Here’s a few events happening throughout the month, I hope to see you there!

Tuesday, July 9th
BizDev Seminar Series: Google+ – Growth, Value, and Clearing up the Confusion

Here’s a topic I just don’t know enough about. So when I saw PSBJ was hosting a workshop on it, I jumped at the chance.

Friday, July 12th
NWEN Breakfast Buzz

You know how much I love NWEN breakfasts. Great networking, great people, great inspiration. If you are a start up, NWEN is the place to be! I don’t usually go into Seattle for the breakfasts (I’m a lazy eastsider who hates traffic) BUT I do love my Full Circle Farm box that’s delivered each week, and this story sounds pretty great!

Thursday, July 18th
eWomen Network Luncheon

As most of you know I’ve been a big fan of eWomenNetwork for a LONG time and the speakers scheduled in 2013 do not look to disappoint! If you can’t join the luncheon but want to check out eWomen let me know, they have smaller events throughout the month.

Monday, July 22nd
My Birthday!

While some people don’t like getting older, I’m okay with it. And I love my birthday. I’ll be skipping out on work for the day to hangout with friends and family and Hank of course!

Which SC&P Employee are You?

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imgresI LOVE Mad Men, and Sunday’s finale did NOT disappoint. And if you haven’t finished the season yet, stop right here.

You’ve been warned.

Don Draper is a terrible team player and employee. Sending him on an indefinite “Break” was exactly what he needed. Well, he needed to be fired, but he’s a partner so can’t be. He’s selfish, pompous, and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks. Awesome qualities in a coworker AND boss.

And after the Season 6 finale I realized, CRAP. I’m Don Draper.  If I don’t want to do something, I don’t. If I think it’s a bad idea, I won’t waste my time on it. If I think something is a great idea, I’ll push for it.

It’s THE biggest reason I started my own company. It’s not fair to other people to have to deal with my Draper-esque tendencies (plus, scotch for breakfast is awesome! kidding!) And it got me thinking…

What Mad Men Character makes you uncomfortable because it hits too close to home?

Do you get too invested in your work and forget to have a life like Peggy?

Are you so desperate for your boss’s attention that you step on the people below you like Pete?

Are you destined for middle management and just doing your job until you get shot in the face like Ken?

Have you been there for ever and are just showing up for the paycheck like Roger?

Are you the new guy and a total brown noser trying to make it like Bob Benson (my favorite new character/mystery this season!) 

Will you do anything the company asks to create security for you and your child like Joan?

Are you neurotic and afraid of getting fired all the time like Ginsberg?

5 Lessons we can Learn from Kids about Business

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This weekend I spent a lot of time with kids under the age of 4. They were a great reminder of why we are a “just the dog- no kids” family. Kids are great and you can learn a lot from them, especially about business. Here’s 5 things I noticed this weekend:

1. Take Time to Warm Up to Scary Stuff. The 22 month old girl at our house yesterday was SO EXCITED to see Hank. Unless he stood up, looked in her general direction, or was within 10 feet of her. She was SO excited to see the doggy, but he’s big and kind of scary to a toddler. The other kids were playing and crawling on him, but she wasn’t ready. By the end of the day, she was petting him, and able to be right next to him without freaking out. Sometimes, we need to give our

needless to say Hank slept well last night
needless to say Hank slept well last night

self time to warm up to the scary stuff in our business. Having friends show you the way is always helpful.

2. Sharing Sucks. My toys, my mom, my spoon, MINE. I was reminded yesterday that this doesn’t change as adults, especially in business. My trade secret, my idea, I want credit, I want the sales, it’s MINE. But we have to share. Collaborate, share ideas, be an adult and not always get our way. It sucks, but it’s part of life. You know this, we all learned it when we were 3.

3. Take a Timeout. One of my favorite 3 year olds (I have 2 favorites for the next 4 months) puts himself in time out. “I think I need to go upstairs” he likes to say. A kid who knows when he’s having a bad day and can be self aware enough to leave the situation to regroup is pretty amazing. We should do this more. Take a walk around the block. Walk away from the computer. Go to the bathroom in the middle of a meeting. MOVE the annoying email out of our inbox. Take a timeout and walk away from the drama.

4. Be Comfortable. Saturday night we had dinner at a friends house and their kid (3 1/2) likes to watch a TV show before bed. As the adults sat outside visiting on the patio, he showed up at the screen door a minute later in his underwear. Smart kid. This was HIS time to do what HE wanted to. no clothes necessary. I’m not suggesting you take your pants off at work, but  find ways to be comfortable. Is it wearing jeans or sweats while working on a project? Leaving the house or office to work somewhere without distractions? Reward yourself for making it through the day with a glass of wine (or no pants?) Be comfortable.

5. Listening will never get easier. When there are a lot of people around and a lot of distractions (and toys and TV and food, and a dog around) it’s easy NOT to listen to mom or dad. Usually it gets you in trouble. This doesn’t change as we get older. We need to be better at listening, to the boss, to our clients, to our colleagues, to the speaker at an event we’re attending. Listen, it’s amazing how much time it’ll save you!